Stephen Lawrence: How the racist murder changed Britain

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The racist murder of Stephen Lawrence and his family’s decades-long struggle for justice has had profound ramifications for Britain.

Beyond the tragedy of a talented young man’s life being snuffed out for no other reason than the colour of his skin, the fallout from the initial failed investigation and the spectacle of the killers walking walking free for years shocked the nation and led to far-reaching legal changes.

The Metropolitan Police’s botched handling of the investigation prompted an inquiry that led to the force’s response being described as “institutionally racist”.

The recommendations from the resulting Macpherson report also led to new race legislation and wide-ranging reforms to...